Most folks don't have a 130-piece marching band parading down their street — that is, unless you live in Vandergrift, it's Friday night and there's a Kiski Area football game at Davis Field.
Since 1921, high school football has been played at Davis Field, nestled among homes and busy Jackson Avenue.
For home games, the Cavalier marching band and color guard take to the streets around Davis Field just before kickoff.
But not for long: Kiski Area School District alumni presented a tribute to Davis Field on Friday night before the Cavaliers took on Connellsville in what could be the last game ever played in Vandergrift.
Cavaliers home games will move to the high school campus in Allegheny Township at some point, according to the Kiski Area School Board, perhaps as soon as next year.
But for what could have been the last hurrah Friday night, football fans milled around at the Kennedy Park gazebo and walked to the game in a steady stream along Jackson Avenue, providing a much-needed bustle for the small town.
Students in tie-dyed T-shirts grilled hotdogs and hamburgers at Kennedy Park as part of Friday's festivities.
“Since I'm a senior, I'm going to miss everything,” said Nick Madzy, 17, of Washington Township as he flipped burgers on a spacious gas grill. The cookout was hosted by the Kiski Area School Section.
“This field — it's got the Kiski stamp on it,” Madzy said.
Many people feel that way, especially alumni who twirled batons and wore marching boots with tassels.
“Miss Carol” Vicini, Kiski Class of 1968, wore a photo pin taken in her blonder days when she was a majorette for the Kiski Area. Her late father, William Vicini, played softball on Davis Field, which served as a baseball field, too.
Vicini, 64, of Pittsburgh toted an old Kiski Area megaphone Friday night, delivering cheers to the tie-dyed shirt wearing teenagers. She made gold silk flowers to give alumni.
“Back in the day, they were real mums for games,” said Karen Cramer, 65, of Vandergrift and the Kiski Area class of 1967.
Seniors wore white mums while everybody else had gold for homecoming, according to Jan Watson Martin, 63, class of '70, who was a member of the pep club.
“I think that Kiski should stay here,” Martin said, lamenting the end of the an era.
“It's not just a tradition, but older people and others who live here walk to the games,” said Martin, who still attends most home games.
Brian Bielek, 54, of Allegheny Township, accompanied his daughter, Lindsay, to Davis Field on Friday night, as it was Senior Night.
“It's sentimental,” he said. “This is my daughter's Senior Night on what could be the last night for the school at this field.
“But I believe that they need better facilities and to keep up with technology and the times.”
Even those who didn't play for the Cavaliers or live in the area could sense the nostalgia.
“In talking with people from Connellsville, there is a unique feeling of being next to these backyards,” said Dan O'Neil, Kiski Area athletic director.
“It's older stadiums like this that have the charm,” he said.
Mary Ann Thomas is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-226-4691 or mthomas@tribweb.com.
